Driving in Turkey: License and Guide for Foreigners

If you’re a Turkish citizen residing abroad or a foreigner who plans on driving in Turkey, this article is for you. Certainly, it’s important to understand the country’s traffic rules and procedures for getting a Turkish driving license. That is to say, Turk Fortune is here to provide you with a detailed, ultimate guide to navigating the process seamlessly.

Driving in Turkey with a Foreign Driver’s License

Driving in Turkey For Turkish Citizens with a foreing license:

If you’re a Turkish citizen with a driver’s license obtained from a foreign country, this license can be used to drive in Turkey for up to 1 (one) year. Moreover, this period starts from your date of entry into the country. Above all, after residing in Turkey for over 6 (six) months, it becomes mandatory for you to carry a Turkish translation of your foreign driver’s license. Moreover, this translation must be certified by foreign representative offices or a Turkish notary public.

Finally, after 1 (one) year, to continue driving in Turkey, it is obligatory to replace your foreign driver’s license with a Turkish one.

For Foreign Citizens: Can you drive in Turkey with a foreign license?

As a foreign citizen, your driver’s license obtained from a foreign country is valid for 6 (six) months from your date of entry into Turkey. In other words, at the end of 6 (six) months, to continue driving in Turkey, you must replace your foreign driver’s license with a Turkish driving license.

How to Replace a Foreign Driving License with a Turkish Driving License

The procedures and principles regarding the replacement of foreign driving licenses with Turkish ones are dictated by relevant laws and bilateral or multilateral agreements. Here are the key steps and regulations you need to know when replacing your license with a Turkish driving license:

Where to Apply for a Turkish Driving License?

You can apply for a Turkish driving license at any Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs of Turkey (a.k.a. Nüfus ve Vatandaşlık İşleri Müdürlüğü).

Which Documents are Required in the Application for a Turkish Driver’s License?

• Photocopy of identity card.
• Color photocopy of foreign driver’s license back to front.
• Notarized translation of foreign driver’s license.
• A petition for notification will be filed from the district Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs.

Afterward, correspondence will be made between the Republic of Turkey and the consulate of the country of origin of the driver’s license.

When the reply letter arrives at the given address, an appointment will be made by the applicant. To clarify, an appointment can be made by calling 199 or logging in to nvi.gov.tr. Moreover, the application will be taken with the following documents.

• Certificate of education. (If the certificate of education is lost, a certificate of equivalence can be obtained from the national education directorate. In addition, a notarized translation of the certificate of education is also required if graduated from the last foreign school).
• Health report showing that you can drive.
• 1 biometric photograph.

Finally, the “valuable paper fee” and “foundation share fee” must be deposited in the bank.

After all, the foreign driver’s license will be taken from the applicant as per the agreement. Most importantly, the applicant cannot carry two driving licenses.

Which Countries’ Driving Licenses Can Be Easily Exchanged For Turkish Driving Licenses?

Turkish or foreign citizens’ driver’s licenses obtained from countries that are party to the Road Traffic Convention (Vienna Convention) will be replaced with equivalent Turkish licenses. Please note that temporary foreign driver’s licenses and those obtained from countries not party to the Road Traffic Convention, or without a bilateral agreement on driving licenses, cannot be exchanged for a Turkish driver’s license.

To clarify, Turkey has agreements with certain countries that enable a straightforward exchange of driver’s licenses. Below is the list of the 83 countries whose driver’s licenses can be directly converted to Turkish driving licenses. Certainly, this conversion is subject to the drivers’ nationality and if their home country has a reciprocal agreement with Turkey.

In short, those who have licenses from countries not included in this list will need to attend driving courses in Turkey. Consequently, they must obtain a new Turkish driver’s license to legally operate a vehicle in the country.

List of Eligible Countries for Turkish Driver’s License Conversion

Surely, understanding these rules will ensure your driving experience in Turkey is compliant and stress-free. When you’re ready to get your Turkish driver’s license, reach out to us at Turk Fortune. We’re here to help guide you through the process.

Types of Driver’s Licenses in Turkey

In Turkey, there are numerous categories of driver’s licenses. Whereas, each designates the type of vehicle one is allowed to drive. Certainly, understanding these categories can help you determine which type of Turkish driver’s license you need to obtain.

Types of Licenses Issued Before 01/01/2016 (Valid until 31/12/2020)

1. Class “A1” Driver’s License: For driving motorized bicycles.
2. Class “A2” Driver’s License: For driving motorcycles.
3. Class “B” Driver’s License: For driving automobiles, minibusses, or pickup trucks.
4. Class “C” Driver’s License: For driving trucks.
5. Class “D” Driver’s License: For operating tow trucks.
6. Class “E” Driver’s License: For driving buses.
7. Class “F” Driver’s License: For driving rubber wheel tractors.
8. Class “G” Driver’s License: For operating motorized vehicles of the construction machinery type.
9. Class “H” Driver’s License: For driving motorcycles or automobiles equipped with special equipment, for patients or disabled persons.
10. Class “K” Driver Candidate Certificate: Provided for a certain period to driver candidates who want to learn to drive according to the conditions specified in the Regulation.

Types of Licenses Issued After 01/01/2016

1. Class M Driver’s License: For driving two, three, and four-wheeled motorized bicycles (mopeds).
2. Class A1 Driver’s License: For driving motorcycles with certain specifications related to cylinder volume, power, and power-to-weight ratio.
3. Class A2 Driver’s License: For driving motorcycles with specific power and power-to-weight ratio conditions.
4. Class A Driver’s License: For driving motorcycles with a power exceeding 15 kilowatts.
5. Class B1 Driver’s License: For driving four-wheeled motorcycles meeting certain net engine power and weight conditions.
6. Class B Driver’s License: For driving cars and vans. The certificate holder may also drive combined vehicles with specific conditions.
7. Class BE Driver’s License: For driving combined vehicles including trailers or semi-trailers attached to vehicles driven with a class B driver’s license.
8. Class C1 Driver’s License: For driving trucks and tractors of specific weight ranges.
9. Class C1E Driver’s License: For driving combined vehicles consisting of trailers or semi-trailers attached to vehicles used with a class C1 driver’s license, and vehicles used with a class B driver’s license under certain conditions.
10. Class C Driver’s License: For driving trucks and tow trucks.
11. Class CE Driver’s License: For driving combined vehicles consisting of trailers or semi-trailers attached to vehicles driven with a class C driver’s license.
12. Class D1 Driver’s License: For driving minibusses.
13. Class D1E Driver’s License: For driving combined vehicles consisting of trailers attached to vehicles driven with a class D1 driver’s license.
14. Class D Driver’s License: For driving minibusses and buses.
15. Class DE Driver’s License: For driving combined vehicles consisting of trailers attached to vehicles driven with a class D driver’s license.
16. Class F Driver’s License: For driving rubber-wheeled tractors.
17. Class G Driver’s License: For driving motor vehicles of the construction machinery type.

Certainly, if you’re looking to get a Turkish driver’s license, it’s crucial to understand which license class corresponds to the vehicle you’ll drive.

Additional Authorizations of Turkish Driver’s Licenses

In Turkey, a holder of a particular driver’s license class may also be authorized to operate other types of vehicles. The classes of licenses one is permitted to use depend on the class of license one already holds. Here’s how these permissions are allocated according to the Turkish Government’s guidelines.

Permissions for Licenses Issued Before 01/01/2016 (Valid until 31/12/2020)

1. A1, F, G, and H License Holders: Authorized to drive only vehicles in their class.
2. A2 License Holders: Can also use an A1 class driver’s license.
3. B License Holders: Can also use an F class driver’s license.
4. C License Holders: Authorized to use class B and F licenses.
5. D License Holders: Can also use classes C, B, and F licenses.
6. E License Holders: Authorized to use classes B, C, and F licenses.

Permissions for Licenses Issued After 01/01/2016

1. B1 License Holders: Can also use a class M driver’s license.
2. F License Holders: Can also use a class M driver’s license.
3. G License Holders: Can also use a class M driver’s license.
4. A1 License Holders: Can also use a class M driver’s license.
5. A2 License Holders: Authorized to use classes M and A1 licenses.
6. A License Holders: Can use classes M, A1, and A2 licenses.
7. B License Holders: Authorized to use classes M, B1, and F licenses.
8. BE License Holders: Can use classes M, B, B1, and F licenses.
9. C License Holders: Authorized to use classes M, B, B1, C1, and F licenses.
10. CE License Holders: Can use M, B, BE, B1, C, C1, C1E, and F licenses; also DE, D1, and D1E if the holder also has a D class driver’s license.
11. C1 License Holders: Can use classes M, B, B1, and F licenses.
12. C1E License Holders: Authorized to use classes M, B, BE, B1, C1, and F licenses.
13. D License Holders: Can use classes M, B, B1, D1, and F licenses.
14. DE License Holders: Can use M, B, BE, B1, D, D1, D1E, and F licenses; CE, C1, and C1E if the holder also has a C class driver’s license.
15. D1 License Holders: Can use classes M, B, B1, and F licenses.
16. D1E License Holders: Authorized to drive vehicles used with M, B, BE, B1, D1, and F class driver’s licenses.

Rules & Consequences for Violations While Holding a Turkish Driver’s License

Certainly, understanding the rules and penalties associated with driver’s license violations in Turkey is crucial to maintain good standing and avoiding unwanted circumstances. Therefore, this section sheds light on what happens when a driver is found violating the same rule repeatedly and the protocol in place for those with confiscated licenses.

Consequences for Repeated Violations

In Turkey, the authorities maintain strict control over speeding violations. If a driver exceeds the speed limit by more than thirty percent, five times within one year, driving license will be revoked for a full year.

Moreover, following one year, the driver can reclaim their license. However, to do so, the driver must undergo a psycho-technical evaluation and psychiatric examination. To clarify, this examination ensures the driver is in a suitable state to operate a vehicle responsibly. Certainly, it also shows that the driver does not pose any risk, ensuring the safety of all road users.

Protocol for Confiscated Licenses

For those who have their driver’s license temporarily confiscated, the Turkish authorities have a set protocol for the return of the license. To clarify, if the driver declares their intent to reacquire their Turkish driver’s license after the confiscation period ends, the Provincial Security Directorate that initially imposed the penalty will be responsible for the return.

However, if the driver does not express this intent, the confiscated license is sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Afterward, it is returned to the country where the driver’s license was initially issued.

Can Tourists Drive in Turkey: Driving Guide for Tourists

Foreigners who are in Turkey temporarily for vacation and hold a valid driver’s license from their home country might have questions or face incidents requiring assistance from local law enforcement. Firstly, In such scenarios, they can call the Police Organization at telephone number 155. Secondly, they can call the Gendarmerie Organization at telephone number 156 for immediate support.

Certainly, Turk Fortune is here to provide expert advice and guidance as you navigate the process to get a Turkish driver’s license or understand the regulations surrounding the use of foreign licenses in Turkey. Please note that we are always happy to hear from you.